2020 Martinelli Chardonnay Zio Tony Ranch
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Tasting notes
The 2020 Chardonnay Zio Tony Ranch offers pretty scents of nutmeg, meringue, honeysuckle and baked yellow apples. The medium-bodied palate is satiny and energetic, with gently honeyed fruit and a long, flavorful finish. Drink it over the next few years for that lush, perfumed fruit. 379 cases were made.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2020 Chardonnay Zio Tony Ranch is a very pretty, exotic wine. Tangerine oil, passionfruit, dried flowers, mint, almond and chamomile give the Zio Tony a tropical profile that is so attractive. In this vintage, the Zio Tony is a bit lighter in body than it can be, but that is not a bad thing. All the elements are very well balanced throughout.
The 2020 Chardonnay Zio Tony Ranch feels more complete. Medium yellow with green highlights, it offers up rounded, layered aromas of lemon curd, jasmine, and green apple f followed by a medium to full-bodied white, with notes of honeysuckle, buttered citrus, and melon, fresh acidity throughout, and a long finish. It feels like there will be good longevity to this wine. Drink 2024-2034. One of the most historic names in Sonoma, the Martinellis are sixth-generation winegrowers based in the heart of the Russian River Valley. Prolific farmers, all of their wines come from estate-grown fruit, with 90% of the grapes sold off to other wineries. In addition to focusing on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, they also produce Zinfandel, Syrah, and Muscat of Alexandria. Courtney Robinett Wagoner joined the team in 2015 as the assistant winemaker before being promoted to winemaker in 2017.
About the producer
Martinelli is a Sonoma benchmark for vineyard-designate bottlings—wines built to highlight how strongly a single site can shape Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah, and Zinfandel. Across the range, the focus stays consistent: small-production bottlings that feel distinctly tied to where they’re grown.